Actually, you can use Chrome browser to stream local video to Chromecast. Any videos that can be played on your PC can be played on your TV now.

You do not need any apps (except the Google Cast extension for Chrome). Of course, there is one downside: the streaming quality is limited to 720p with high bitrate, no 1080p at this time. But this quality usually is sufficient for most videos.

What you need to do is to install the Google Cast extension from Chrome store. Once this extension is installed, you can cast any tabs of your Chrome browser to the TV.

So, how to stream local video to Chromecast (and watch onTV)?

It is simple. In the address bar, instead of typing http bla-bla, now you type file://c:/yourvideo.mp4 Of course, you need locate your video and give the full path of it. Once the video is played in Chrome browser, you can sent it to TV through Chromecast using the Google cast extension.

For Google Cast extension, you can set the quality to High (720p) or Extreme (720p high bitrate) to get a reasonable video quality on a full HD TV. So this is the simplest way to stream local video to Chromecast without using any apps.

In Chrome webstore, type “Google cast” as shown below to search apps and extensions. Then click “FREE” (because it is free) to add it to your Chrome browser.

Before you can add the extension to Chrome browser, you will get a confirmation page. It tells you the permission this extension is seeking.

As it is from Google, you can trust it. So, click “Add” as shown below to add this official Google cast extension to your Chrome browser.

Once the Google cast extension is added successfully to your Chrome browser, you will get a notification on this (as shown below).

For Google Cast extension, you can set the quality to High (720p) or Extreme (720p high bitrate) to get a reasonable video quality on a full HD TV.

If your network connection is not good, or your video is in 480p, you can choose 480p.

To set the video quality, you may click the Google cast extension as shown below. Then click Options to choose the suitable tab casting quality.

Step 2: Fill the location of the video to the address bar in Chromecast

In the address bar, instead of typing a web address, now you type the video file address like (without quotation marks) “file://c:/yourvideo.mp4”.

Of course, you need locate your video file and give the full path to it. Once the video is played in Chrome browser, you can sent it to TV through Chromecast using the Google cast extension.

If you are using Windows, you can also just drag your video from Windows explorer and then drop it to Chrome browser as shown below. If Chrome browser cannot play it, it will be shown as being downloaded by Chrome.

Step 3: Enable casting to Chromecast

Once Chrome is playing the video, you can then click the Google cast extension and choose the Chromecast devices as shown below. The video will then be shown on TV

Step 4: Enjoy the video on the TV.

That’s all. This is the simplest way to stream local video to Chromecast without using any apps.

You can even stream local video to Chromecast in background in full screen!

When the the video is played in full screen on your PC, you probably think you cannot do anything else except watching it. This is not true.

You can use the following windows shortcuts to switch to other programs, or start a new program (e.g.,Chrome browser):

Alt+Tab: to switch between programs. Once the video is played in full-screen mode, use this shortcut to switch to other opened programs/apps. So, you can do something else when you stream local video to Chromecast in full-screen, and in background.

Ctrl+Esc: to get the Star button. You can start a new program, e.g., a new Chrome browser, and work on it while you stream local video to Chromecast in background and in full-screen.

Summary of streaming local video to Chromecast using Chrome browser (tab casting)

You need Google cast extension for Chrome browser.

This method does NOT work on smartphones or tablets, because Chrome for Android doesn’t support extensions.

For WMV files, you need install windows media player firefox plugin in firefox, then, Chrome can play such files in Chrome. Yes install the plugin in Firefox browser, then the files can be played in CHrome….

For some MPEG files, you need download and install QuickTime. Then, you can play such files in Chrome.

AVI is not supported by Chrome. Most plugins do not work in Chrome as well. If you want to play it in Chrome browser, you can try to rename it as .mpeg (this should work for most, but not all, avi files). You’d better also install VLC player.

I played 2 mkv files in google chrome. One worked, the other one only had visuals. No sound. I thought it was because the file was too big. But I played a smaller file also mkv. And this one also had no sound. please help

Thinking outside the box – does Chromecast need an internet connection to cast local videos? I’m looking to use a small TV in my RV that has an HDMI connection to stream local videos. If I simply plug in a wireless router (no internet connection) and connect both my wireless router and my laptop to the router….. will I be able to relay my local videos to the Chromecast?

Google advertises the Chromecastas a simple plug’n’play device. It is anything but. That is the con. aka fraud. First you need a fully connected broadband connection (via a landline). Then you need a wifi the router which has to be only one of a few types that work with Chromecast. (Not all do as many have found to their cost). Then you need a computer with Win 7+ – XP wont work. Then you need to install Google Chrome browser – which tracks EVERY site visited and reports back to a huge db. Then you need the Chromecast app. for Chrome. However as many hundreds (thousands?) report this all still does not guarantee a cast to a t.v. You now need to configure (actually reconfigure) your wifi network settings using Control panel etc. Doing this latter can and reportedly has screwed up existing and reliable wifi connections. This device is a piece of ill-thought-out junk. Oh – and it runs red hot so don’t put it anywhere enclosed.

Ok..I just downloaded Videostream chrome extention and it worked great. I can see my video from my desktop to my TV. Now my question is whether it is consuming my Data…I have a 30 GB data plan and get consumed. So don’t want to consume my data for my local files.

Love the idea of Chromecast but has too many limitations at the moment, it needs Local media ability soon, this is why I love the idea of Airtame Wireless HDMI Dongle but not available will after August 🙁

The easy way to do this is to go to the video file you want to play, right-click on it and select ‘open with’ then look for chrome on the list or select ‘other applications on this computer’ (if chrome is not listed) and follow your chrome installation path in Program Files.

Once found, select it and your video starts to play on Google chrome, cast it to chromecast using the cast button on the top right.

i installed everything and wanted to cast the youtube app from chrome from my windows 8 tablet. but from starting to run youtube my tv screen got black. i have tried everything. the preperation looked good with the blue cast icon in the chrome and the blank cast icon under youtube. what might be the problem? whhat i noticed is that the cast icon in youtube was blank and not blue. there was a network connection in the windows charm network menu called chromecast0684

–ofcourse chrome browser is being cast as expected –i can cast local video files, downloaded movies etc also through Chrome. All you need to do is to paste the video URL in chrome instead of playing them in a player, such as: file://C:/Users/Himvan/Downloads/Land of the Lost.mp4 (need to get firefox plugin to play AVI) –lastly, MY expectation is also met of playing a DVD on laptop (since I don’t own a DVD player) and then watching it on TV. all you need to do is to use “cast entire screen” option 🙂

I cant figure out why some MP4s work, and others only have audio, with a very small video screen with no picture in my browser. I have looked at the file settings, and I cant see a difference. Is there something that needs to be different in the Bitrate, or FPS with the MP4 files??? Im using a PC with windows 7, and it works great with some videos…

Can I stream .mkv videos? Also if I stream a 1080p video, when it says you can only stream 720p, does that mean that I can stream a 1080p video but it will convert it to 720p OR it will not stream a 1080p.

Thanks this was a great help! I appreciate you taking the time to post! I was all panicked thinking I was unable to play the personal videos from my desktop! I had been looking all over for a HDMI cord where one side was a flash drive and now I found that and more! Thanks again!

From my experience, streaming local video to Chromecast doesn’t actually utilize the local wifi. Chrome will broadcast the screen to Google’s servers, which Chromecast will subsequently download. My internet provider is Verizon DSL, which gives me 300kb/s download and 50kb/s upload, which is nowhere near enough bandwidth to support streaming 720p videos. The most I get is a frozen frame and stuttered audio out of the tv.

Is there a solution to this? I would really like to watch movies without having to move a laptop around every time, yet keep my current provider.

As I know, and based on my own test, the video is NOT uploaded. It is played directly from your PC (Chrome browser) and cast to TV. It is actually using WebRTC. There is no difference with casting a static or local html file.

Chromecast need internet connection, no matter what you are using it for. But this is not for uploading and streaming videos.

Tried casting my entire desktop to the TV. Quality of the video & audio was fine. But it was also still playing on my laptop, in a horrible 2-second delay. Can’t mute the laptop without muting the outgoing sound to the tv.

My local connection isn’t working well enough to stream my local videos properly! It will try to cast the tab but fail after being extremely choppy after a few seconds. Is there a setting I can adjust on my router to fix this??

I have a pc connected via LAN to my router. If I play a video on my pc, is it possible to stream it to the chromecast? The chromecast would be 1meter away from my router but my pc has no WiFi so it’s connected through LAN cable at the same router.

The method of entering the entire file path into the chrome browser address bar worked perfectly for me! I would have never thought to do that?!?! How awesome if that!?!?!?! Thanks to the Author of this article!

Yes, thank you. I was able to stream video files dragged/dropped into my browser window using the Google Cast (beta) Extension. Only problem is that no one else could use bandwidth or the video and sound would get choppy.

I am having a major problem getting the volume to work on my tv. I went to watch a show off the CWTV.COM website and well the video cast just fine but there is no volume on my tv. I raised my tv volume to 100 and heard nothing. I also made sure that the volume was on on my laptop…it was but no sound. WHY? I paid money for this cast device it should work…help!

I am just waiting for my chromecast to arrive. I want to stream direct from my synology DS213j NAS to the chromecast and looks like plex deals with all the different video types but it looks like my synology won’t be up to the job of running plex. Can I run plex media server on my pc so that it talks to the synology and then streams over the wireless network to the chromecast ?

Yes, you can. I tested similar configuration with the WD My Book live.

You just need map the folder to your PC (as a drive). Then, Plex media server can use the drive as normal drive in the PC. Of course, you’d better use cable connection for the PC. Wireless connection is not as stable as cable. Also, for the NAS server, you should also use cable, not wireless (although some models support wireless as well) for the same reason.

My Windows Vista machine unfortunately does not have an HDMI output and I don’t, as yet, have a smart TV. That’s why Chromecast seemed to be of interest. But I have yet to be able to get a firm definitive yes or no on this, getting completely opposite answers depending on which “expert” I ask. So I’ve put off buying one. I tend to stream a lot of stuff off of Project Free TV. What I want to know is this: if I watch a video from that site in a Chrome browser, can I stream that output to my HDTV using Chromecast? A simple “yay” or “nay” would be appreciated. If “nay,” is there anything out there that will let me do this without too many connections? Thanks!

does it use more internet bandwidth to stream from android vs stream from PC? Also, if a movie is downloaded to my phone, then cast to the tv does that use bandwidth as well? I have capped internet and I am going over my cap.

I absolutely hated the fact that people just blabbed but didn’t make any good suggestions. I had the same issue. Chrome plays .mp4 which can be casted but for other file formats download the videostream chromecast extension then attempt to play the video file. Now if your firewall blocks you from playing the file, then you need to open TCP ports 5556 and 5558. Follow the instructions in this link to open the ports then attempt to play your video again. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/open-port-windows-firewall#1TC=windows-7

Had CC for a few months and wondered if I could play local videos from the laptop to the TV, wow simple quick and easy played a MP4 video and now a M4V home video (converted a 50 yr old cine film) great tip!

I have a simple question that does not to have been raised so far (many of the questions to-date are about casting videos): Is there a way to cast a folder of photos (in My Pictures) from my Windows PC to the TV. A freebie, preferably. It does not need to be ultra slick. I’d probably want to ‘drive’ the slideshow from the PC – or is there another way? The photos are held locally on the PC.

I recently installed this and have it working on my laptop, but on my desktop computer, the chrome browser isn’t able to find a casting device. What’s weird is I can go to a webpage with an embedded youtube video, click on the casting icon in the youtube window (and then it shows up in the upper right corner of the browser), and it will cast to my TV just fine. But if I load a local file, it can’t find that same casting device. Just downloaded Videostream today, and it also can’t find the casting device. Do you know why it automatically finds the casting device for youtube videos, but not for anything else?

Chromecast is fundamentally a home entertainment device, not an office product. The PC cannot broadcast to multiple TVs. To show powepoint, you have to share the desktop, which is still an experimental feature.

Hello. trying play House of cards which is MP4. Not very hi res. The sound comes out of TV fine but no picture. Then tried another episode: the picture and sound appeared but even if full screen on PC it was a small picture on the TV. Thanks,

I installed the Google Cast-extension. Dropped a mp4-file into (the opening screen of) Google Chrome. The file automaticly get started, but I see no film in the browser. Only a small time-bar in the middle of a whole black screen. In the time-bar I can see the progress of the playing file. After casting I see the same on my TV. On my laptop and on my TV I can hear the audio of the file, but is seems (sometimes) to fail (buffering?). I have not installed the Videostream-extension yet. What is going wrong?

Hallo Simon, Thanks for the quick answer. The Chrome browser don’t play the video (well), but WMP on that laptop is doing it well! So the codecs must be available (or not?). I will try the Videostream extension. What is the meaning of “Pleause do not use desktop mirroring for videos”? What is “desktop mirroring”? Another question. What is a good app for (free and easy) playing of mp4-files from my android-tablet (on the TV)? I can cast the H264-files on my TV, but not the mp4- (and avi-) files.

On Android, you have many options to play mp4 files. You can try VLC player for Android. If you want to play to Chromecast/TV, you can try Android screen mirroring (if your tablet is running Android KitKat 4.4.2 or later versions). Check this guide for Android screen mirroring: http://allaboutchromecast.com/screen-mirroring-with-chromecast/

Hi Guys . Tried the chromecast on my laptop to TV but to be honest went back to the trusted HDMI cable that I have under the carpet from laptop to TV . Am I missing out on something or is this just as good a way and cheaper than spending £35

Chromecast is mainly a casting device. It performs best for streaming from internet: you just initiate it from any devices and Chromecast will do the rest.

Streaming local media can be a little tricky. But with proper solution (Chrome browser, videostream or Plex), it should work acceptably. Once VLC player 3.0 is released, streaming local media to Chroemcast will be a bit easier.

Excellent, thank you. It was just a case of c&p ing my file location into a browser tab then casting that tab, a lot easier than I thought it would be. For this particular mkv file I am currently watching at least 🙂

Great article. Doing this (streaming from a PC to my TV) was one of my goals in purchasing the Chromecast. Worked great. My network has a centralized router that supports both wired/wireless devices. This solution allowed me to wirelessly access media files on my PC (on wired connection) via my wireless router. Thank you.

I just found this article, and want to say thank you. I was struggling with the laptop to chromecast “cast” and this works. I can see if people are having issues its likely getting the file name correct that is the issue. I can now play from local c:\ or for networked drives. TY VM

Hi. If you reply to my question, please do not talk in tech speak! Please assume I know nothing (which I don’t really!) My son bought me a chrome cast for Xmas which works great. I download films onto my laptop (can’t play them straight from the internet because my internet speed is rubbish, I live in a small village in Corsica) and it works perfectly until I try to do something else on my computer at the same time then the film becomes juddery. Someone told me this is because my wifi can’t cope (whatever that means!). Can you advise please?

Hi , thanks for the guide, it is working great on my pc/chromecast but I just wanted to check if streaming videos locally stored on my laptop to chromecast uses any of my data allowance? I have a data limit. I would have thought not but wondered if you can confirm